The holidays are upon us. Shopping, parties, finalizing plans for travel, preparing to host family and guests, the desire to make the holidays a special time is heady indeed.
Take a break from the flurry and escape reality at the Adams State University Theatre production “The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong,” directed by John H. Taylor, Ph.D. It has all the perfect elements for a time out: silly antics, physical comedy, and fictional characters who persevere even as they spectacularly fail with the wild hope nobody notices.
The fast-paced, award-winning show finishes in 75 minutes, but your happy, refreshed spirit will keep smiling throughout the week.
It’s opening night for an amateur theatre company’s winter season play. As the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society performs the who-done-it mystery The Murder at Haversham Manor, everything possible goes wrong. “At first, small things go awry, then bigger mishaps until the entire production is in shambles, but still, the show goes on as the actors adapt and continue to pretend all is good,” said Dr. Taylor.
The “The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong” was written and produced by the British company, Mischief Theatre, who have created a whole series of “goes wrong plays.” The productions have become a world-wide phenomenon. “Audience’s aged 5 to 105 will have fun as the on-stage action spins widely out of control,” Dr. Taylor said. “And during the holiday season, what better way to spend time together than laughing and enjoying the silly, over-the-top silly antics in this slapstick comedy.”
This is the 20th anniversary of the Adams State Theatre Department’s holiday season productions. Since 2004, the faculty and students have produced a variety of classics including “A Christmas Carol,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Little Women,” “Peter Pan,” and “Cinderella.” “This year I selected a comedy because laughter is always good to help relieve stress,” added Dr. Taylor.
Public performances of “The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong” run at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1, 8, and 9; and 2 p.m., Dec. 3, on the San Luis Valley Federal Bank Main Stage, located in the Theatre Building. The Share the Magic benefit performance for La Puente Home is Dec. 2 and the Adams State alumni performance is 2 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 10. The production is sponsored in part through the generosity of Billings Electric and Valley Lock and Security.
Tickets are $13 for general public and free to Associated Students and Faculty (AS&F) with current Adams State I.D. Tickets may be purchased online. For telephone or in-person ticket orders, the box office number is 719-587-8499. The box office is open from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. AS&F tickets for faculty, staff, and students must be ordered through the box office.
